Delightful Chardonnay and Pinot from Ram’s Gate Winery

It’s impossible for me to think about California without worry and empathy for those affected by the wildfires in Southern California. My heart goes out to all those suffering from these devastating fires, and I have the utmost respect for all the firefighters, first responders, volunteers, and helpers of all kinds.   

For me, it was specially Sonoma Pinot and Chardonnay that really got this East Coast guy stoked on California wine. Just something about Sonoma hits different. Over the years, I’ve kept tabs on my favorite producers and enjoyed exploring new (to me) ones over the years. A winery I’ve enjoyed a lot over the past few years is Ram’s Gate Winery – who makes complex, delicious, mouthwatering Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. 

Ram's Gate Estate Vineyard. Credit: Ram's Gate Winery

This Sonoma producer proves itself yet again with two new 2021 releases. They hold an estate vineyard in Carneros and source fruit from different sites around Sonoma, and seem to always craft winners. In 2021, Winemaker Joe Nielsen’s Sonoma Coast Series show the concentration and depth of dry conditions with the brightness and levity I love from Sonoma wines. 

These wines were received as samples and tasted sighted. 

2021 Ram's Gate Chardonnay Sonoma Coast - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
SRP: $48
Pretty yellow color. Breezy and bright on the nose with yellow pears, white peaches, drizzled with lime and lemon, and topped with some chalk dust and limestone. The palate is racy and crisp but shows a lovely depth of texture with flavors of rich lemon curd, tangy orange peel, kiwi, and yellow pears. There are waves of flinty minerals and chalk dust, along with honeyed white tea and hints of mint. So fresh and vibrant but deep and complex as well. Sourced mainly from Sebastapol-area fruit, this wine is aged for 11 months in 25% new French oak. (92 points)

2021 Ram's Gate Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
SRP: $52
Deep ruby color. Gorgeous aromas of black cherries, red and black plums, along with strawberry jam – saucy but fresh with scents of spiced black tea, tobacco, rose hips, and white pepper. The palate sports dusty tannins, deep texture, but such lively acidity, making for a fresh but rich wine. Lovely concentration of fruit (black cherry, raspberry, tangy strawberry) and the fruit is mixed well with tones of mint, rose, violets, spiced tea, some clay, loamy earth. Hints of cedar and clove are blended in expertly. Drinking great now, but no rush at all, as I’d love to see how this develops. Sourced from fruit from Green Valley, Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley, and Carneros AVAs, and aged 11 months in 25% new French oak. (93 points)